The Kansas Speedway, which will hold a NASCAR Camping World truck race tonight and a Sprint Cup race tomorrow night, has announced a schedule that will make racing more dramatic next season.
In 2017, the Hollywood Casino 400 will become the cutoff race for the second round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup Series.
The race will be Oct. 21, and drivers will have one last chance to qualify for the third round of the chase with a win.
“Every race is important in NASCAR, but having a cutoff race will make the competition even more exciting at Kansas Speedway next fall. Kansas City certainly understands the excitement that surrounds a “Game Seven” type of atmosphere, and that is what a cutoff race provides in the Chase,“ said Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren, in a news release. “Kansas Speedway’s Chase race has played such an important part in deciding the championship since the Chase was instituted and I look forward to seeing how not only our 2017 races plays a part in deciding the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, but also the important part that both of our 2016 races will play in determining this year’s champion.”
In addition to the Oct. 21, 2017, Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas Speedway will hold the Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR XFINITY race on Oct. 20 as part of the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase for the Championship.
In May 2017, Kansas Speedway will again be host of the Go Bowling 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race under the lights on May 13 and the Kansas 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on May 12.
Tickets for 2016 races can be purchased online atwww.kansasspeedway.com or by calling 866-460-RACE (7223), including this weekend’s Go Bowling 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on May 7 and the Toyota Tundra 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on May 6.
In October 2016, the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns with the Hollywood Casino 400 on Oct. 16. The Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race will take center stage on Oct. 15, while the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship race will run on Oct. 14.
That big facility only having 4 notable race events for the entire year seems like a waste. But even if it hosted 40 notable race events, it really needs to be opened up to locals for use. It is done all over the world. It should be done at the Kansas Speedway.